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Gay Houston rallies to celebrate marriage ruling

By Matt Hennie | Jun 30, 2015 | 1:22 PM

The Supreme Court ruled. LGBT couples got married in Harris County. And then gay Houston celebrated on Friday at an outdoor rally at Discovery Green with a jubilant Mayor Annise Parker, LGBT activists and hundreds of supporters.

"What today's ruling is about ultimately is love and our ability to sanctify and acknowledge our relationships with the people we love," Parker told the crowd during the Decision Day rally. (Watch video above)

The event – organized by Lambda Legal Houston, Victory Fund Houston and HRC – was attended by several elected officials and prominent LGBT activists. They included state Sen. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Garnet Coleman, City Council member Robert Gallegos, former City Council member Sue Lovell, gay former District Court Judge Steven Kirkland, Rev. Troy Treash, Ray Hill and Mitchell Katine, a gay attorney who helped strike down anti-gay sodomy laws in Texas and across the U.S.

Parker also warned that the fight for LGBT equality is not over. With marriage equality now won, it's time "to root out the last vestige of discrimination" and protect LGBT people in the workplace, families and adoption.

"Our work is not done but this is a great night to celebrate. Thank you for bringing us to this day," Parker said.